Propulsion means for watercraft



May 17, 1938. 1.. E. NORQUIST PROPULSION MEANS FOR WATERCRAFT Filed July 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l [22 vendor Lester E [Var May 17, 1938. E. NORQUIST 2,117,495

PROPULSION MEANS FOR WATERCRAFT Filed July 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 frzverjor Lesa-er E 02* 20's! Alf/army Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE Claims.

This invention relates to powered water craft, and has as an object to provide improved propulsion means for such craft.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved propulsion means for water craft selectively operable to control lateral as well as longitudinal travel of such craft.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved propulsion means for water craft selectively operable to steer as well as to propel such craft.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of elements comprising propulsion means for water craft, which means are readily adaptable to operative association in various combinations with various types and sizes of water craft, and are susceptible of highly flexible sel ctive operation for efficient propulsion and control thereof.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view, partlyin horizontal section, of a typical application of the invention'to a conventional water craft, a portion of said craft being broken away to conserve space. Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of the arrangement shown in Figure 1. Figured is a view similar to Figure 1 and illustrating a modified arrangement of the elements constituting the invention. Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the stern portion of a water craft wherewith a further modification of the invention is operatively associated. Figure 5 is a fragmentary, detail elevation of protective grid means advantageously employed with the other elements of the invention. Figure 6 is a plan view of the elements shown in Figure 5.

The instant invention is primarily concerned with the longitudinal propulsion of water craft through the efficient application of power to initiate and maintain a. suction effect adjacent the forward portion of the craft and a pressure effect adjacent the stern portion of the craft, such effects combining to propel the craft away from the pressure area and inthe direction of the suction zone. The conventional screw or propeller associated with the stern of a vessel for propulsion purposes is productive of a pressure exerted by forward portions of the vessel against the water through which propulsion is desired, which pressure is proportional to the speed of the vessel and must be overcome by the propeller thrust in order to permit travel of the craft. In addition, the location of the conventional propeller is such as to minimize its effectiveness because of the eddy currents and disturbed water adjacent the stern of a moving craft, and it is to obviate the foregoing disadvantages as well as to secure advantages of efficiency, control, and flexibility, that the principles of the instant invention have been developed.

In the application of the principles of the invention as illustrated, a typical water craft or vessel arranged for power propulsion is conventionally illustrated as comprising a hull Ill formed with the usual tapered bow II and curved stern i2. Adjacent the bow portion of the craft, the side walls of the hull iii are intersected by a plurality of circular ports which open below the normal water line of the craft and are preferably paired on opposite sides of the hull. Each of the ports above mentioned opens into an intake chamber defined by a suitable housing or wall I3 within the hull Hi, and each of said intake chambers operatively houses a water wheel or like element Hi rotatable to initiate and maintain water flow relative to its intake chamber. wheel M is preferably fixed to the outer end of an operating shaft I 5 which extends inwardly of the hull ill through a gland or stuffing box l6 associated with the housing l3, through suitable bearing supports I? and a coupling 3, to driven connection with the rotor element of a power unit, such as an electric motor I S, suitably fixed within and carried by the hull I 0. Each of the shafts I 5 supporting the water wheels is is preferably provided with an independent power unit, though it is to be understood that all of said shafts may be operated from a single power unit, through proper clutches and driving connections, without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention. A water wheel M is provided in operative relation with each of the ports opening through the forward portion of the hull forcommunication with an intake chamber, and said water wheels are disposed and arranged for rotation to normally draw Water inwardly of the ports and thereby'create a suction effect adjacent and acting on the forward portion of the vessel. The specific disposition and arrangement of the intake chambers will vary with varying sizes and types of water craft, but they are preferably grouped closely adjacent the bow of the vessel, as indicated by broken lines in Figures 1 and 2, it being apparent that an enhanced suction eifect may be had through actuation of the water wheel elements when said elements are dis- Each water posed along and in closely spaced relation in the prow portion of the craft.

The intake chambers defined by the housings l3 are each provided with an outlet conduit 20 disposed along the adjacent hull wall and preferably inclining downwardly and rearwardly of the craft to communicate at intervals with a water-way or conduit 2| of a size to freely receive the maximum discharge from the conduits 20 with a minimum of pressure and resistance, the conduit 2| preferably increasing in diameter or cross sectional area as it is intersected by successive outlets 20. One conduit 2| is disposed along each side of and just within the walls of the hull ID to receive the combined intake from the chambers communicating through the corresponding hull wall, and, according to the showing of Figures 1 and 2, said conduits 2| are directed inwardly of the hull adjacent the stern I2 and combine on the longitudinal median line of the vessel in an outlet 22 having a capacity sufiicient to carry the combined fiow from the conduits 2| and arranged to open through the stern of the craft below the normals water line. In the arrangement just described, actuation of the water wheels It in a common proper direction acts to induce water flow inwardly of the intake chambers and outwardly therefrom through the outlets 2|! to establish a combined flow rearwardly of the vessel through the conduits 2| for ultimate discharge through the out let 22, thus generating a suction effect adjacent the bow of the craft and a pressure effect adjacent the stern of the craft which combined to propel the vessel longitudinally and forwardly. A craft equipped as shown and described may be steered to a desirable and advantageous degree through selective control of the water wheels l4 during forward travel of the vessel or when the craft is at rest. With all of the water wheels operating, there is a balance between the suction effects generated on opposite sides of the hull and a consequent tendency of the craft to maintain a straight course. Obviously, if more of the water wheels are operating on one side than on the other side of the hull, the suction eifect on that side having the larger number of water wheels in operation will be enhanced with a consequent tendency of the craft to veer or turn toward the area of greater suction effect. The outlet 22 is preferably provided with a gate or valve 23 arranged to entirely obstruct the passage through said outlet, at times. When the valve 23 is closed, there is no fiow through the outlet 22 from the conduits 2|, but a U-shaped communication is then established between the ports on one side of the craft and those on the opposite side of the hull, so that when the water wheels on one side only of the craft are operated, a water flow is established inwardly through the intake chambers on that side of the craft, through the outlets 2|], conduits 2|, opposite outlets 2|], and outwardly through the intake chambers wherein the water wheels are idle, which fiow acts to move the forward portion of the craft toward the suction effect produced by the operating water wheels, and thereby steer and control the vessel when not in longitudinal motion. It is, of course, apparent that the water wheels may be reversely driven to draw water inwardly through the outlet 22 for discharge outwardly of the intake chambers and thereby propel the craft in a rearward direction, and that said water wheels may be selectively operated with such speed and in such operative combinations as will provide complete control of the craft position and direction.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 3, the essential elements of the invention are in all respects identical with those previously described, the only variation from the previous disclosure being that the conduits 2| are led directly and. separately to and open through the stern of the craft I2. With this latter arrangement, longi-- tudinal propulsion of the craft may be efiected exactly as above set forth, and the craft may be steered when in longitudinal motion, but since no connection is provided between the conduits 2| within the craft, this modification does not permit of the lateral manipulation of the craft apart from longitudinal motion thereof.

In the modification according to Figure 4, the advantages of both of the installations previously described are combined. In this modification the conduits 2| open directly through the stern of the craft in spaced relation and are interconnected within the hull by means of a suitable passage 25. The outlet ends of the conduits 2| are each provided with cutofi valves 25, and a similar valve 26 is installed to control the flow through the passage 24, said valve preferably being suitably interconnected for simultaneous actuation in such manner as to provide that when one valve 25 is open the other valve 25 is also open and the valve 2% closed, and that when the valve 26 is open, both valves 2'5 are closed, which arrangement permits direct discharge from the conduits 2| for forward propulsion of the craft, or intake on one side of the craft for discharge through the.ports on the opposite side, utilizing comprises a plurality of spaced, parallel fingers i 2'! fixed at one end each to and disposed in trailing relation with a bar 28 which is in turn mounted for reciprocation in a vertically disposed slide bearing 29 fixed to the hull ill in leading relation with each of the intake ports. The arrangement shown provides a guard assembly from which weeds and like entangling matter may slide away freely, and which may be conveniently and expeditiously elevated in its slide bearing 29 to clear its respective port when access to the latter or water wheel associated therewith is desired.

The power units l9 are preferably arranged for independent selective control in any suitable or convenient manner, a control panel 30 preferably being associated with and positioned adjacent each of said power units for manipulation by maintenance personnel of the craft, when required, and a master control panel 3| preferably being associated with the various panels 30 and positioned on the bridge or in the pilot house of the vessel for manipulation by navigating personnel. With this arrangement, the power units may be actuated and controlled from a remote station, when expedient, or may be separately and individually regulated on signal, or otherwise, according to the needs and problems of a given situation.

While the water wheels M are illustrated as of propeller type, such illustration is but typical of any suitable specific water wheel construction operable to initiate and maintain water flow, and is to be understood as including conventional pumps of centrifugal or other type, squirrel-cage rotor elements, and any equivalent construction operable to the ends specified.

Since many changes, modifications, and variations, in the specific form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention- 1. The operative association with a water craft of propulsion and control means comprising intake ports opening through opposite sides of the craft hull adjacent the bow and below the waterline of said craft, an intake chamber cooperating with each of said ports within said craft, a water wheel operatively disposed in each of said intake chambers, power means in selectively driving relation with said water wheels, an outlet conduit from each of said intake chambers directed rearwardly and downwardly of the craft, a longitudinal header conduit communicating with the outlet conduits on each side of the craft, said header conduits converging to a junction adjacent the stern of the craft, an outlet passage communicating with the combined header conduits and opening through the stern of the craft, and valve means associated with said outlet passage and operable to establish flow through said header conduits and between the oppositely-disposed sets of intake chambers.

2. Propulsion means for watercraft comprising a series of separate intake chambers grouped along and opening through opposite sides of the craft hull below the normal water line and adjacent the craft how, a water wheel operatively mounted in each of said intake chambers, power means in selective driving relation with said water wheels, an outlet conduit associated With each of said intake chambers, said outlet conduit having a flow capacity less than that of its associated chamber, whereby the propulsion efiect of the water wheel associated with a given chamber is utilized to maintain a uniform, high-velocity flow of water through the related outlet conduit, a header conduit interconnecting all of the outlet conduits along one side of the craft, said header conduit being disposed longitudinally of the craft and having a rearwardly-increasing capacity such as will accommodate the inflow from the outlet conduits without back pressures or increased velocity of flow in the header conduit, and a discharge for said header conduit through the stern of the craft and below the normal water line thereof.

3. Propulsion means for watercraft comprising a series of separate intake chambers grouped along and opening through opposite sides of the craft hull below the normal water line and adjacent the craft bow, a water wheel operatively mounted in each of said intake chambers, power means in selective driving relation with said water wheels, an outlet conduit associated with each of said intake chambers, said outlet conduit having a flow capacity less than that of its associated chamber,whereby the. propulsion effect of the water wheel associated with a given chamber is utilized to maintain a uniform, high-velocity flow of water through the related outlet conduit, a header conduit longitudinally of each side of the craft in interconnecting relation with the outlet conduits on the corresponding side of the craft, said header conduit being formed with a rearwardly-increasing capacity such as will accommodate the inflow from successive outlet conduits without undesirable back pressures and increase in the velocity of flow therethrough, flow passage means interconnecting the rearward portions of said header conduits, and a discharge from said flow passage means rearwardly through the stern of the craft and below the normal water line thereof.

4. Propulsion means for watercraft comprising a series of separate intake chambers grouped along and opening through opposite sides of the craft hull below the normal water line and adjacent the craft bow, a water wheel operatively mounted in each of said intake chambers, power means in selective driving relation with said water wheels, an outlet conduit associated with each of said intake chambers, said outlet conduit having aflow capacity less than that of its associated chamber, whereby the propulsion effect of the water wheel associated with a given chamber is utilized to maintain a uniform, high-velocity flow of water through the related outlet con-duit, a header conduit longitudinally of each side of the craft in interconnecting relation with the outlet conduits on the corresponding side of the craft, said header conduit being formed with a rearwardly-increasing capacity such as will accommodate the inflow from successive outlet conduits without undesirable back pressures and increase in the velocity of fiow therethrough, flow tions of said header conduits, a discharge from said flow passage means rearwardly through the stern of the craft and below the normal water line thereof, and valve means associated with said discharge and closable to establish flow from one of said header conduits into, through and outwardly of the intake chambers associated with the other of said header conduits.

5. Propulsion means for watercraft comprising a series of separate intake chambers grouped along and opening through opposite sides of the craft hull below the normal water line and adjacent the craft bow, a water wheel operatively mounted in each of said intake chambers, power means in selective driving relation with said water wheels, an outlet conduit associated with each of said intake chambers, said outlet conduit having a flow capacity less than that of its associated chamber, whereby the propulsion effect of the water wheel associated with a given chamber is utilized to maintain a uniform, highvelocity flow of water through the related outlet conduit, a header conduit longitudinally of each side of the craft in interconnecting relation with the outlet conduits on the corresponding side of the craft, said header conduit being formed with a rearwardly increasing capacity such as will accommodate the inflow from successive outlet conduits without undesirable back pressures and increase in the velocity of flow therethrough, a discharge for each of said header conduits opening through the stern of said craft below the normal water line thereof, flow passage means interconnecting said header conduits adjacent the stern of the craft, and valve means olperatively vassociated with each header discharge and with the flow passage means for the control of flow through, outwardly of and between said header conduits.

LESTER E. NORQUIST. 

